Ceramic mud dispenser



July 9, 1963 E. J. RIVETTE CERAMIC MUD DISPENSER Filed Jan. 16, 1962 INVENTOR.

3,096,912 Patented July 9, 1963 3,05%,912 CERAMIC MUD DISPENSER Ervin J. Rivette, 2405 Stanton St., Lake Charles, La. Filed Jan. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 166,606 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-483) This invention relates to a device for pour-dispensing of fluid materials, and in particular, to an auxiliary frame for containers of ceramic mud, which tacilitates and controls pouring of the contents.

In a common form of package, commercial, ceramic mud is contained in a rectangular cardboard box, having an inner plastic liner. Thus, after the top of the outer box has been opened, the mud is poured, as required, from the open top of the plastic liner. Except for the backing provided by the outer box, method of dispensing has all the disadvantages of pouring a fluid from a highly flexible bag, which involves deforming a portion of the bag opening into a delivery spout, and maintaining its form, location and effective delivery rate during pouring. As is commonly known, bag-pouring such as this is not always attended with happy results.

it is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a rigid pouring mouth for flexible containers holding plastic or fluid material. Another object is to provide a pouring mouth, as aforesaid, in an auxiliary repository for packages containing the flexible container. A further and related object is to provide an auxiliary holder for fluid containers, which, in addition to having a backing frame for a pouring opening, is equipped with a bail, to assist in the pouring operation, and to facilitate carrying the packaged fluid about. It is also among the objects to provide a pouring frame which is simple in structure, yet rugged, durable, and certain of operation, and which is also low in cost, and easy to manufacture.

These and other ends, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, which may be briefly described as comprising in one embodiment, a metal band of square outline, having a pair of pivoted, extending, three-sided straps, adapted to be swung into supporting positon beneath the bottom of the outer package of the fluid container, this functioning as a basket, and the band having a pivoted bail, positionable over the band, and four spider straps, one attached medially to each face, and extending inwardly and upwardly of the band, and a rigid, circular band carried by the upper ends of said spider straps.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the following specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled basket and fluid container,

'FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, to enlarged scale, taken on the plane of the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an exploded View, in perspective, of the basket and container of FIGURE 1, separated, and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the auxiliary pouring frame capped, for protection between periods of use.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown a box cubical in form, which forms the outer container, housing a flexible, thin-walled, inner bag 12, of suitable, fluid-impervious plastic, which contains the inner fluid 14, ceramic mud, for instance. The elements thus far enumerated constitute the general form and content of the commercially available package, and in ordinary usage, the consumer, atter opening the flaps of box 10, would pour directly from the package into an open mold, or a relatively small charge-opening in a mold. This involves holding the box 10 with one hand, while accomplishing, with the other, the entire task of deforming the open mouth of bag 12 into a pouring spout of suitable size, and superimposed upon these tasks is the simultaneous task of tilting the container, as well as properly guiding the stream of fluid to the mold opening.

The device which amelioriates the pouring difficulties comprises a flat band ring 16, of square outline, sized for a sliding fit over the outwardly and downwardly-folded flaps 15 of the box I10, as seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4. Pivotally secured by rivets 18, to two opposite faces of band 16 are a pair of U-form straps 20, the depth of which is such that when the cross members of the straps engage the bottom of box 10, in supporting relation thereto, the band 16 covers a substantial portion of box flaps 16, and its top edge is near the top edge of box 10.

A series of four identical, spider straps 22, formed in a dog-leg bend, are secured by rivets 24, medially of the respective faces of band 16, and their upper, inner ends are secured as by welding or soldering to a pouring ring 26, having an upper, rolled or beaded edge 28, and a lower, frusto-conical flange 30, nesting with the slant portions of spiders 22. A curved bail 32, of flat stock, is pivoted at its lower ends on two of the spider-holding rivets 24, in opposite faces of the band 16.

In use, the outer box 10 is opened, its flaps 15 turned downwardly, and the sqaure band, with U-straps 20 swung out of the way, is slid over the flaps =15, atter which the U-straps 20 are swung back into a position underlying the bottom of box 10. The open mouth of the inner bag 12 is then drawn upward through the pouring ring 26, and its outer edge folded downwardly over the top bead 28 of the ring, the mouth of the bag being then secured to ring 26, as by a rubberband 34. At this stage, the assembly may be lifted, with or without use of the ball 32, and the contained fluid may be poured as easily and accurately as fluid from any jar with a rigid, circular mouth, and with easily-controlled metering.

Between pours, when it becomes necessary to protect the fluid against foreign matter, in order to avoid removing the mouth of the bag from the pouring ring, the latter is preferably provided with a suitable closure cap. One manner of accomplishing this is shown in FIGURE 4, wherein a cap 36, of suitable size is placed over the pouring ring. For this cap, an ordinary cover from foodstuff containers may be employed.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided, an adaptor which avoids the difliculties of pouring from the mouth of a highly flexible bag by furnishing a rigid backing therefor and which results in easier manipulation, more accurate pouring, and more precise metering. The device also provides a sturdy, protective cage for the packaged fluid, and, by means of the associated bail, tacilitates handling and portage. The device is quickly and easily mounted, and when transferring to a new package, is as easily removed.

Generally speaking, while a certain preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear trom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination, with a package for fluid materials including outer box with top flaps and an inner, flexible bag having an open mouth projecting outwardly from the box, of a pour-controlling device, comprising:

(a) a substantially flat band of an outline form such that it is fitted about said outer box to enclose the box and its flaps;

(b) a pair of generally U- form straps having legs pivoted, in pairs, on two opposite sides of the band for swinging movement, on substantially parallel axes, to a position below the band and to positions at opposite sides thereof to support the box;

(c) a series of spider elements secured medially to the sides of the band;

(d) each of the spider elements having an intermediate section extending inwaidly and upwardly from the band;

(e) a ping secured to the spider elements having tetaining means at its upper edge;

(3) the mouth of the flexible bag being reverted over the ring; and

(g) elastic means about the mouth and ring to retain the location of the mouth with tespect to the ring.

2. The combination of claim :1, and

(a) handle mean-s for the device.

3. A pour conrtrolling device for a container having a bottom, sides, and a mouth, the pour-controlling device comprising:

(a) a b and of an outline form to encircle the container;

(b) means pivotally connected to the band to support the container at its bottom and sides;

(0) a series of spider elements secured medially to the sides of the band;

(d) each of the spider elements having an intermediate section extending upwardly and inwardly from the band;

(e) a secured to the spider elements having retaining means at its upper edge;

(1) the mouth of the container being reverted over the ring; and

(g) elastic means about the mouth and ring to retain the location of the mouth with respect to the ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 667,906 Hanchett Feb. 12, 1901 1,953,042 Cody Mar. 27, 1934 2,888,179 Daggett May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,182 Sweden Mar. 24, 1944 

3. A POUR-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A BOTTOM, SIDES, AND A MOUTH, THE POUR-CONTROLLING DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A BAND OF AN OUTLINE FORM TO ENCIRCLE THE CONTAINER; (B) MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE BAND TO SUPPORT THE CONTAINER AT ITS BOTTOM AND SIDES; (C) A SERIES OF SPIDER ELEMENTS SECURED MEDIALLY TO THE SIDES OF THE BAND; (D) EACH OF THE SPIDER ELEMENTS HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM THE BAND; (E) A RING SECURED TO THE SPIDER ELEMENTS HAVING RETAINING MEANS AT ITS UPPER EDGE; (F) THE MOUTH OF THE CONTAINER BEING REVERTED OVER THE RING; AND (G) ELASTIC MEANS ABOUT THE MOUTH AND RING TO RETAIN THE LOCATION OF THE MOUTH WITH RESPECT TO THE RING. 